HIV: The Quick Reference
HIV: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
A virus that damages the immune system, now a manageable long-term condition when treated.
Key takeaways
- Undetectable equals untransmittable: effective treatment prevents sexual transmission
- Testing: CDC recommends everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested at least once
- Most useful single change: Test regularly if you are at risk; testing is confidential.
- Commonest mistake: Delaying testing out of fear; early treatment changes outcomes entirely.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Undetectable equals untransmittable | effective treatment prevents sexual transmission |
| Testing | CDC recommends everyone aged 13 to 64 be tested at least once |
| PrEP | pre-exposure prophylaxis, recommended by the USPSTF for people at increased risk |
| PEP | post-exposure prophylaxis, started within 72 hours |
| Life expectancy on treatment | close to that of the general population |
In one paragraph
Effective treatment makes the virus undetectable and untransmittable, which has changed both prognosis and prevention entirely.
Worth doing
- Test regularly if you are at risk; testing is confidential
- Ask your doctor about PrEP if you are at ongoing risk
- Seek PEP urgently after a possible exposure
- Start and stay on treatment; it protects you and your partners
Worth avoiding
- Delaying testing out of fear; early treatment changes outcomes entirely
- Assuming risk is limited to particular groups
- Missing the 72-hour window for PEP
Related topics
- The Evidence on West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes, Without the Hype (Infectious Diseases)
- Hepatitis B and C: What the Evidence Actually Says (Liver Health)
- Common Childhood Infections: What the Evidence Actually Says (Children's Health)
- Immunosuppression and Vaccines: What Published Guidance Supports (Vaccinations)
Where to go next
- Popular Beliefs About HIV, and What Is Actually Published
- The First Steps With HIV
- HIV — the reference entry
- Sexual Health: The Complete Guide
- What the Guidance Really Says About Cervical Screening and HPV
- What the Guidance Really Says About Sexual Function
When to speak to a doctor
Go to an emergency room or urgent care within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure — PEP is most effective the sooner it is started. See your doctor or a sexual health clinic for a flu-like illness with rash, fever and swollen glands some weeks after a possible exposure, which can indicate recent infection. Call 911 if you have been assaulted and are in danger or seriously hurt.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Getting Tested for HIV
- US Preventive Services Task Force — Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: Preexposure Prophylaxis
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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